COUNCIL #12537 - SACRED HEART REMEMBERS
FRANCIS G MAHONEY

 

Francis Gerald (“Frank”) Mahoney of St. James passed away on November 29, 2018, at the age of 80 at SECU Hospice House of Brunswick-Lower Cape Fear Hospice, surrounded by his loving family, after a brief illness.

Frank was born in Albany, New York, to Almeren Francis Mahoney and Yvonne Duplantie Mahoney on January 17, 1938.

A lifelong musician, Frank was leading and playing trumpet in his own dance band before he was 20. He met his loving wife Joyce at Perkinston Junior College in Perkinston, Mississippi, and the couple married in July, 1959.

Their first child, Mark, was born in July 1960. Frank graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with a B.A. in Music Education in 1964, after which he served as band director and music teacher in high schools in Mississippi and Florida.

As the family grew, Frank began his distinguished career in the insurance-financial services industry, eventually holding executive positions at SunAmerica Corporation in Atlanta and Los Angeles, and Jefferson Pilot in Greensboro.

As a father, he coached his children’s baseball teams and served as president of support organizations for their high school bands and athletic teams and never missed a child’s performance, event or game.

In addition to his love for family and music, Frank was an avid golfer.

Soon after his retirement in 2002, he and Joyce moved to St. James, where Frank renewed his passion for jazz, concert and choral music, playing trumpet in the Brunswick Concert Band, and the Brunswick Big Band, which he led until recently. He also sang in the Sea Notes choir, also serving terms as its society Vice-President and President.

A devout Catholic, he was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and Church Choir in Southport, and the Knights of Columbus.
Frank is survived by his devoted wife, Joyce Collum Mahoney; children, Caren Mahoney of Los Angeles, Paul Mahoney (Karen) of Fort Worth, Texas, and Laurel Beyer (Andrew) of Sun Valley, Idaho; daughter-in-law Laquetta Barrington Mahoney of Carolina Beach; eight grandchildren; and ten nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by sons Mark Mahoney (2018) and Stephen Mahoney (1989).

Frank was a true gentleman, a loving husband, father and grandfather, a supporter of his church and community, and friend to all he met.